Events and Attractions

Silverstone's future as a venue for MotoGP, as well as Formula 1, "looks uncertain after a draft calendar published on Wednesday had no circuit listed for next year's British motorcycle grand prix," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. A slot for the 12th of 19 races was included on Aug. 26 but "with asterisks to indicate that the circuit was yet to be decided." Silverstone has hosted MotoGP since '10, "most recently as part of an agreement with the unbuilt Circuit of Wales" that had secured a five-year deal with series promoter Dorna from '15-19. The hosting rights are again up for tender, with Donington Park "back in contention" after being taken over in January by former F1 driver Jonathan Palmer. Silverstone Managing Dir Stuart Pringle said that the MotoGP contract "came down to Donington or Silverstone." He added that, "while ultimately the decision may come down to money, Silverstone had shown Dorna it could stage a secure event with grandstand seating for 75,000 spectators." Pringle expected a decision "within weeks" but said that he was also "very relaxed" about the possibility of losing the MotoGP race (REUTERS, 9/13).

After "much wrangle and rancour," the date for England rugby’s showdown with New Zealand has "finally been set," with Eddie Jones’ team to face the world champion at Twickenham on Nov. 10 next year, according to Alex Lowe of the LONDON TIMES. England will open its four-match campaign against South Africa, "tackle the All Blacks and then play Japan for the first time at Twickenham before rounding off the series against Australia." It is about "as punishing a schedule as England could have put together" less than a year out from the World Cup and Jones "wants his team to emerge from it as the world’s No. 1 team." He said, "We want to win that series 4-0. It will give us a really good indicator of where we are as a squad." England has not played the All Blacks since '14, when it lost four times to New Zealand. The Rugby Football Union "deliberately avoided arranging a fixture for this year in case it had a negative impact" on England's world ranking and therefore its World Cup seeding (LONDON TIMES, 9/13).

The LPGAcanceled a tournament in Shanghai less than one month before it was due to be played "after failing to get local government approval for the event." The Alisports LPGA tournament had been scheduled for Oct. 5-8 (REUTERS, 9/12).

The PGA Tour of Australasia announced Wainui Golf Club, on Auckland's North Shore, would host its season-opening New Zealand Masters from Jan. 11-14 with a prize purse of A$100,000 ($79,840). Following in the footsteps of the New Zealand Open, the NZ Masters "will see amateurs joining the professionals under a slightly different format" (STUFF, 9/13).

A "record-breaking" 70,000 tickets have been sold for Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title match against Kubrat Pulev at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. The event, live on Sky Sports Box Office, has become the "fastest-selling sporting show at the stadium" (SKY SPORTS, 9/13).

Pakistan Cricket Board Chair Najam Sethi said that Pakistan is "set to host the West Indies in a short three-match Twenty20 series in Lahore at the end of November." Sri Lanka also confirmed to play a T20 int'l on Oct. 29 in Lahore (PTI, 9/13).

FIFA has reportedly "permitted" Argentina to stage its World Cup qualifier against Peru on Oct. 5 at the Bombonera Stadium. The Peruvian Football Federation earlier this week "requested the game be shifted from the iconic venue in Buenos Aires due to safety concerns for their fans," Xinhua reported (IANS, 9/13).

A suicide bomber "struck outside a cricket stadium during a match in Afghanistan's capital Wednesday, killing at least three people and wounding seven others," officials said. Kabul police spokesperson Basir Mujahid said that "hundreds of people were inside watching a match when the bomber struck outside the gates where security guards were searching people" (AP, 9/13).